THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER { ‘BASS 14th SAFETY REPORT Attempts by some reactionary employers to return to the use of the “Big Stick” in safety have been thwarted by the energetic action of the Local Unions and Regional Council, stated Regional Safety Director Bob Ross in his report to the 14th Annual Safety Conference. Following is the complete text of his report: “Historically, the aim of our Union in accident prevention has been the development of a joint safety programme arrived at mutually, Early acceptance by management of equal par- ticipation in the framing of safety policy and programmes on the job, produced the dramatic improvements of which we have been so proud. “However, in the past year there has emerged an irre- sponsible philosophy on the part of some reactionary manage- ment, a return to the “Big Stick” in safety — devise some rules and ram them down the throats of the crew; fire the so-called unsafe worker and there company obligation ends. “The effects of course have been disastrous. “Fortunately, energetic action by the Local Unions and Regional Council has largely overcome this problem, although there still remains a tough fight ahead with a few die-hard corporations. “T am particularly pleased to note the close attention to safety problems on the part of the administrative officers and executive boards of the Local Unions and the Regional Coun- cil. This stronger interest has encouraged greater efforts in Local Safety Councils and in plant Safety Committees. “Until recently, the various operators in the Southern Interior had no co-ordinated approach to accident prevention. The appointment of two full time Safety Directors by the Southern Interior Lumber Manufacturers Association will give the Local Unions the opportunity to provide experienced assistance to the employers in the development of an area approach to Safety. “The Northern Interior has still to provide a full time Association Safety Department. The Local Union must there- fore deal with the operators individually. “In the Province of Alberta, in the big St. Regis operation at Hinton, your Regional Safety Director found it necessary to negotiate at the bargaining table a joint safety programme. Here the threat of job action was found necessary. “With the exception of the I.W.A. plants in Saskatchewan, there is no real safety programme in that province. What little responsibility there is in prevention, regulation and inspection is divided haphazardly between the Department of Labour and the Workmen’s Compensation Board. “We can take pride in the invitation to our Regional Council by the Deputy Minister of Labour and the new Chair- man of the Workmen’s Compensation Board, to assist in set- ting up a provincial plan in this field. One meeting was held recently in Prince Albert and others are projected. “In the latter part of September your Safety Director finished presentation to the Commission of Inquiry on the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The Council of the Forest Industries of B.C. which represents all of the organized em- ployers in the woodworking industry, introduced two very dangerous amendments to the Act, both designed to increase the “walking wounded” problem. They were: “That in the case of total temporary disability of Jess than twenty-eight days duration, the amount of time loss payments be cut from the present 75% to 50% of net earnings. “That in the case of temporary partial disability and the employer offers “light work”, that compensation payments be confined to 75% of any difference in pay between his old rate and the new rate for “light work”. “Fortunately, we had witnesses to show to the Commis- sioner that even under the present legislation, there was considerable abuse on the part of employers. “Your Regional Officers are considering a recommenda- tion that this Regional Council re-affiliate itself to the B.C. Safety Council. This step will be necessary if we are to partici- ers in the proposed new Canadian National Safety Council. it is time that Canada should no longer be required to turn OU ET to the U.S.A. for national information on accidents. “Finally, on behalf of the Regional Council, I wish to ecognize the tremendous debt of gratitude our Union owes | T Committee members whose unselfish and avoided so much tragedy — } ~ = 4 AY] reg —— 22 an | b ‘ a... 1 | NNUAL SAFETY CONFERENCE 4 NEW SAFETY BIBLE Region To Print Safety Policy In Booklet Form For Members The recent convention approved revisions to the IWA Safety Policy. The changes will be incorporated in booklet form for mass distribution to the membership. In recent years it has be- [ come increasingly apparent that certain employers were intent on two approaches. 1. To twist the functions of the Joint Safety Committees to that of a disciplinary body. 2. Failing in this, to isolate the Safety Committee by the use of management appointed area “Safety Captains” as a substitute. : The first abuse is already covered in our policy: “(8) Union Safety Commit- tee members shall at no time recommend or agree to any disciplinary action for safety violations.” The second problem is now taken care of by the new sections below: “That all accidents are in- itially investigated by the ac- cident prevention committee only.” ments to the union members of the Joint Safety Commit- tee.” bi Seer pia ae ee nee BOB ROSS Ses “(10) Only the Joint Safety Committee in an operation shall be recognized and auth- orized to conduct or deal with safety matters within the operation.” “(11) In the case of large operations, additional safety representatives may be elec- ted or appointed by the Un- Regional Safety Director “(12) Any violation of the foregoing policy is an offence against the Union and those persons who violate the pol- icy may be called before the Local Union Executive Board for action.” Union members should un- ion to report from depart- derstand that the Safety Pol- f i : Se ‘ wy wt a B.C.’s FIRST WORKMAN to receive Workmen’s Compensa- tion Board benefits way back in 1917 recently visited WCB Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver. Thomas Pickering, 80, of Burnaby, now retired, injured his finger in a Vancouver longshoring accident two hours after the Workmen’s Compen- sation Act went into effect January 1, 1917. In his 40 years of work as a longshoreman this was the only injury he suffered. In photo, Mr. Pickering looks on approvingly as Settimio Briglio of Burnaby, who injured his hand in April of this year, gets useful exercise by weaving bristles into brush in Occupa- tional Therapy ward at Centre. Over two million inuries have Iseen reported since Mr. Pickering was injured. Benefits awarded to accident victims amount to nearly half-a-billion dollars in WCB’s 46 year history. icy booklet contains direction — not merely advice — as to his conduct in accident pre- vention. Refusal to agree with the employer on disciplinary ac- tion against a fellow member in no way conflicts with the SELF ‘DISCIPLINE within our Union which is outlined in the new Sub-section (12). The Regional Council has supplied to your Local Un- ions, a sufficient number of stencilled copies of the re- vised policy to serve until the booklet is available for distri- bution to each member. THIS WILL BE YOUR SAFETY BIBLE — USE IT! QUESTIONS & ANSWERS I read recently that a man was electrocuted when he tried to retrieve an electric razor which he had dropped in water while shaving. How dangerous are electric razors? The above case was very unusual. Electric razors are very tightly constructed to keep out water from inner mechanisms, and generally are very safe. In instances where the razor is dropped into water, usually enough time will elapse before the user retrieves it for the water to short out the circuit and prevent hazard. The man in this case apparently retrieved his within a split second be- fore the water had a chance to short out the circuit. * * * Are blank cartridges com- pletely harmless? No, and when used at close range, the cartridges can be fatal. The term “blank” in a sense is a misnomer; most cartridges contain heavy paper wadding that will pen- etrate the body when fired at close range. * * * Is any radiation given off by a radium-dial watch? Yes, but the amount is so minute there is no danger. The amount of radiation is greater on a new watch than an old one, but even so, the amount is almost unmeasur- able. And since the half-life of radium is 1620 years, the decrease of radiation with the age of the watch would not be significant. ae ees ME Sg